Miranda v. Arizona : the Supreme Court, politics, and social change : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

This thesis explores the landmark 1966 Supreme Court decision, Miranda v. Arizona, in regards to social factors, political influences, civil liberties, and the administration of criminal justice. It gives an historical analysis of the case, from the civil rights ruling that sparked a public controversy, to the attempts of ambitious politicians who sought to overturn it. It also attempts to explain the actual effects of the Miranda decision; whether it has lived up to the fears of escalating crime rates, or whether it remains as a hallmark of the constitutional rights of all men and women.